The Prince’s Countryside Fund

The Prince’s Countryside Fund was established to support the sustainability and protection of farms and rural communities throughout the UK. The aim of the funding is to have a long-term positive impact on rural communities, helping those that live and work there to sustain the countryside by tackling key rural issues.

For the Spring 2016 round, there are specific funds available to help the rural communities affected by the recent flooding following a series of storms over the winter. The Trust is actively seeking applications from organisations that are supporting farmers, rural businesses and communities to recover following the flooding or projects that are focused on assisting the recovery and future resilience in these rural areas, particularly Cumbria, Lancashire, North Yorkshire, Herefordshire, Northumberland and Scotland.

Not -for-profit organisations, charities, social enterprises, Community Interest Companies, companies limited by guarantee, and unincorporated associations based and working within the UK can apply.

Grants of up to a maximum of £50,000 (inclusive of VAT) to a maximum period of three years are available for projects that result in outcomes that directly relate to the Fund’s objectives to:

Improve the viability of British farming targeting the areas of greatest need

Improve the sustainability of rural communities targeting the area of greatest need

Projects must focus on at least one of the following three key countryside issues:

Developing Thriving Rural Communities by improving service provision in rural areas. Projects should provide innovative solutions to deliver assets and services that keep rural communities together and develop a more sustainable rural economy.

Transforming Rural Livelihoods by supporting rural enterprise and farming businesses. Projects should focus on developing stronger, more sustainable farm and rural enterprises with the aim of halting the decline of the rural economy.

Creating the Farmers of the Future by providing training opportunities for young people and the unemployed. Projects should help improve skills and increase opportunities of taking up rural careers, in particular in farming, with the aim of helping people to remain within and contribute to the rural economy.